Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, alias Bachchu Razakar, a fugitive sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, has surrendered. He appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday morning (January 21) to turn himself in.

On January 21, 2013, the then-Chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, Justice Obaidul Hassan, sentenced him to death. The verdict against Abul Kalam Azad was the first-ever judgment delivered in a war crimes case. However, he was a fugitive at the time the verdict was announced. According to law enforcement, he fled the country before the arrest warrant could be served, reportedly reaching Pakistan via India.

The arguments in this case concluded on December 26, 2012. After hearing both sides, the Tribunal kept the verdict pending (CAV). Previously, his judicial proceedings were completed at ICT-2, followed by the announcement of the judgment.

Following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024, the Tribunal was reconstituted. In the changed circumstances, Abul Kalam applied to the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 8, 2025, seeking a stay on his sentence. On October 22 of the same year, the government stayed his execution for one year and directed him to surrender before filing an appeal with the Supreme Court. Consequently, he surrendered at the Tribunal and has been taken into police custody.

Proved Charges

The prosecution brought eight charges of crimes against humanity against the former Jamaat-e-Islami member. The court awarded him the death penalty as seven of the eight charges were proven. Among these, his involvement in murder, genocide, and rape was proven in the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh charges.

While the first, fifth, and eighth charges involving abduction, confinement, and torture were also proven, no additional sentences were given as he received the maximum penalty for other charges. He was acquitted of the second charge as the prosecution failed to prove the torture of a person in custody.

Murder and Genocide

• 3rd, 4th, and 6th Charges: Azad was found guilty of leading Razakars to kill Sudhangshu Mohan Roy (May 14), Madhab Chandra Biswas (May 16), and Chittaranjan Das (June 3).

• 7th Charge: On May 17, Azad and 30-35 Razakars looted and burned houses in Hasamdia village, killing seven people in indiscriminate firing. Two others were abducted and later shot dead at Mayendia Bazar river ghat.

Abduction and Torture

• 1st Charge: In June 1971, Azad and his associates tortured Ranajit Nath in Faridpur and took him to the Circuit House. Ranajit later managed to escape.

• 5th Charge: On June 8, Azad led an attack on a Hindu household in Natibadia village, where two women were raped.

• 8th Charge: On May 18, Azad abducted a young Hindu woman from Uzirpur Bazarpara and tortured her at a house in Khardia village for several days.

The Rise of ‘Maulana’ Azad

Born on March 5, 1947, in Khardia village of Faridpur, he was locally known as ‘Bachchu of Khardia.’ After finishing Madrasa education, he enrolled in Faridpur Rajendra College. During the Liberation War, he formed a collaborator force with weapons provided by the Pakistani army.

Although he was arrested in 1972 under the Collaborators Act, he was released after the political changes of 1975. He then rebranded himself as "Maulana Abul Kalam Azad." Using wealth allegedly looted during the war, he built influence and established himself as an "Islamic thinker" through various TV channels.

In 2008, during a TV program, this former Jamaat leader claimed he was never a Razakar. He served as the president of the Bangladesh Masjid Mission and later founded the Bangladesh Masjid Council. Although murder cases were filed against him in 2001, they were suppressed at the time.

After the Awami League government initiated the war crimes trial, investigations into Azad began alongside other top Jamaat leaders. Despite multiple raids in 2012, police failed to arrest him as he had already fled the country. The Tribunal eventually conducted the trial in his absence (in absentia), leading to the historic 2013 verdict.